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Environmental noise directive requires Member States to produce and periodically update strategic noise maps for agglomerates in order to evaluate citizens’ noise exposure before the action plan. Its ultimate purpose is to mitigate the highest or most harmful noise levels. Available tools do not provide a point-to-point indication of the predominant sources to be addressed by intervention on the sources by individual owners. Recently, noise source predominance maps were developed to show the predominant source at each point of the calculation grid of the strategic noise map by means of polygons and colors. Intensity noise source predominance maps were also developed to add the visualization of noise exposure levels by coloring the polygons according to a color scale. This work investigates their applicability in agglomerates and defines an additional indicator with the purpose of connecting the high levels of citizen exposure to its predominant source. The new approach provides an aid to administrations in identifying areas where singular noise mitigations would be truly effective in improving the citizen’s quality of life by ensuring a noticeable decrease in total noise while reducing exposure to the specific source.

Today, rapid urbanization and accompanying population growth cause an increase in noise levels in residential areas. Noise source-based evaluations have revealed that the main environmental noise source originating from transportation in urban life is road traffic noise. The most efficient and economical way to reduce the adverse effects of road traffic noise is to control the noise at its source. If this implementation is insufficient, acoustic barriers are recommended to be applied between the source and the receiver. Noise barrier systems with different design components are used worldwide for road traffic noise reduction. Appropriate sections (lengths) should be determined before developing the barrier systems to ensure noise control on roads. The areas where acceptable noise levels are exceeded, and the road sections in these areas can be determined by strategic noise mapping. However, a range of criteria should be evaluated before applying barriers in noise-exposure areas. Within the scope of this study, potential road sections where noise barrier systems can be applied were determined for 20 provinces in Turkey for which strategic noise maps were prepared. While determining these sections, exposure exceedance assessments and noise modeling input data were used in the road impact areas determined within the scope of strategic noise mapping studies. It has been determined that noise barriers can be applied to approximately 3.9% of the modeled 620 km major roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to present the concept of calculating indexes of effectiveness and acoustic efficiency of road investments that facilitate decision-making on the sequence of work implementation and the development of investment task schedule. The presented indexes are used in the development of strategic noise maps of cities and in the creation of noise protection programs. The presented concept fits into the topic of managing the acoustic climate of cities. Design/methodology/approach: The method of ranking road investments described in the article was developed based on the author's many years of experience in developing strategic noise maps of cities and presented as a case study for the city of Siemianowice Śląskie. Findings: The proposed method supports urban investment management. It allows for selecting the sequence of implementation of road investments in cities which ensures the achievement of maximum acoustic efficiency. The developed index of acoustic efficiency is defined as the ratio of costs incurred to the number of people exposed to excessive noise before and after the implementation of the investment. This index can be used to rank investments in the development of strategic noise maps and the creation of noise protection programs. Practical implications: Strategic noise maps are prepared every 5 years in accordance with EU legislation. Based on them, noise protection programs are developed, within which future investments reducing noise in the city must be identified and their effects determined. The presented concept of introducing a ranking index for investments in terms of their acoustic efficiency is a response to the cities' demand for the development of a uniform methodology supporting the selection of investments based on the criterion of acoustic efficiency. The applied method can be introduced to standardize the way of evaluating the justification of implementing noise reduction investments in cities for the purposes of developing noise protection programs. Originality/value: The article presents a concept of calculating indexes of the effectiveness and acoustic efficiency of road investments. These indexes are helpful in managing urban investments aimed at reducing the exposure of residents to noise, and in particular for proper planning of the sequence of investment implementation when developing noise protection programs. The defined indexes and the method of their calculation relate not only to road investments but can also be used to rank investments related to reducing railway and industrial noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental noise prevention starts from strategic noise maps of main transport infrastructures and agglomerations. Graduated colors are representative of the average noise levels produced in space by each individual source, or the by the overall sum. Among their purposes, communication of results to population has been the most neglected. The present paper proposes predominance maps for the first time in environmental acoustic (NSP). NSP are visualization tool showing the predominant source in each point by means of polygons and colors. Also Intensity Noise Source Predominance maps (I-NSP) are proposed, which add visualizations of noise exposure levels to NSP by coloring the polygons according to a color-scale. Both NSP and I-NSP are new visualization that would help understanding and assigning responsibilities for exceeding limits, but they also represent a valid support for locating the acoustic monitoring stations when required. As case studies, the maps are calculated in port areas, as they are large areas with a great variability of different types of noise sources and represent a smaller case than agglomeration, but with higher complexity.

Environmental noise from traffic, industry and entertainment in cities has been one of the important environmental problems. In developed countries, noise from highways, airways and railways are the second major health problem. Traffic noise has negative effects on human health. The traffic noise exposes are occurring in the high populated living areas. Strategic noise maps are prepared to identify these noise areas in cities and to create liveable cities. Thus, problems related to environmental noise are identified and necessary control measures can be taken. In this study, strategic noise maps arising from the road traffic in Gaziantep with high population density were created with traffic counts and simulation program. Within the scope of the study, a total of 193 km of highways, 161 km of which are main roads, were modelled and vehicle counts were made on 33 road sections. Strategic noise maps were prepared for daytime, evening and night with the obtained simulation data. Then, the population ratios in the regions exceeding the noise limit values caused by road traffic were calculated. According to this; 5.4% of the population of Gaziantep is exposed to traffic noise levels above the critical levels determined during the day, 8.2% in the evening and 7.5% at night. Sensitive areas, 201 schools and 95 hospitals, are located in these noise areas and are exposed to traffic noise levels.

Noise as a form of environmental pollution negatively affects the attractiveness of residential areas. Its adverse effect is particularly noticeable in the vicinity of roads with high traffic volume. Along with the dynamic development of roads, the problem of the impact of traffic noise on the prices of residential real estate is now common. The purpose of this article was to determine the impact of road traffic noise from a busy route on residential property prices using strategic noise map (SNM) resources as a source of information on real estate. Housing estate was identified in the area of the Polish city of Bydgoszcz. Assuming that the prices of real estate reflect its characteristics, the article attempts to verify the following hypothesis: for residential premises located at Kujawska St., noise is a feature that reduces their price. SNM resources, statistical analyses and econometric modelling were used in the research. The studies show that housing prices vary with acoustic zones, but differences in prices in the areas surveyed are not statistically significant. In addition, the undertaken research has shown that SNM resources can be a source of information on real estate, especially in the context of environmental factors.

In the framework of the European Directive 2002/49/EC, from 2012 to 2016, several cities in Greece have completed noise strategic maps with noise action plans that usually define the main strategies to reduce the noise residents are exposed to and introduce and preserve “quiet zones”. Several medium urban agglomerations in Greece (Volos, Larissa, Chania, Heraklion, Corfu, Agrinio, Thessaloniki) have been chosen to also analyse the sound qualities of the soundscapes of specific urban neighbourhoods in order to generate recommendations for the urban design of the soundscapes of these agglomerations in a manner that complements conventional noise mitigation measures. The general principle of this approach is to relate quantitative data (e.g., from measurements, acoustic simulations, urban forms, topography, and traffic model) with qualitative data (e.g., from type of sources, interviews, reports on environmental noise perception) by creating quantitative and qualitative maps. The aim of this study is to propose possible action tools to the relevant authorities aiming at diminishing noise levels in affected areas and also to provide solutions towards a sustainable sound environment both in space and time. This paper presents the main current methodology, selected important results proposed for the urban agglomerations of a typical Southeast Mediterranean country such as Greece.

Road traffic noise is one of the main concerns of large cities. Most of them have classified their territory in acoustic areas and have constructed strategic noise maps. From both sources we have elaborated seven types of acoustic neighbourhoods according to both their noise gap in regard to the legal standard and the percentage of population exposed to noise. A spatial Durbin model has been selected as the strategy that best models the impact of noise on housing prices. However, results for Madrid do not confirm the hedonic theory and indicate, as one of the possibilities, that the official acoustic areas in Madrid could be incorrectly designed.

It has been 20 years since the European Commission adopted the Green Paper on Future Noise Policy in 1996, taking the first comprehensive step towards the development of an EU-wide noise policy. This document envisioned a directive that would harmonise methods for the assessment of environmental noise and the dissemination of information to the public. This led to the establishment of Directive 2002/49/EC in 2002 also known as the Environmental Noise Directive (END). The END called for the development of strategic noise maps and action plans across every EU Member State in five year intervals. Two phases of noise mapping and action planning have now been completed and Member States are about to embark on the third phase of noise mapping, due in 2017. Focussing on results reported to the European Commission, this study summarises the current state of noise mapping, 20 years after the publication of the Green Paper, and identifies critical needs for future noise mapping phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the European Directive 2002/49/EC, the city of Herakleion in Crete Island (Greece) recently completed (2013) its Strategic Noise Map (SNM) and relevant Noise Action Plan (NAP). Strategic noise mapping and action plans are important tools to define the main strategies to reduce noise exposure of residents and introduce and preserve "quite zones". Within this framework and as a part of the Herakleion city Strategic Noise Mapping general a specific analysis was introduced in the urban area of Alikarnassos (east part of the city) adjacent to the International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis”. The 2nd biggest airport in Greece, airport is proposed to be relocated in Kastelli area (some 37 km south of the Herakleion city centre, far away from dense populated areas), within the next decade but in the mean time, air traffic (take of, taxi and landing procedures, especially during the extended spring and summer period), are affecting the city. This paper analyzes the extended acoustic measurement monitoring program and the modelling of environmental noise levels within the city’s SNM introducing - state of the art - qualitative surveys on the sound perception and noise annoyance by the residents as well as in depth analysis of the urban and architectural tissue. All these results have been transcribed in several maps introducing a very comprehensive evaluation tool towards an efficient noise action plan leading to the eventual relocation of the airport. This paper presents the main results of this research aiming to the evaluation of the inffluence at the inhabitants’ sonic comfort from aircraft operation.

Abstract: There currently exist a number of commercial tools which may be used to develop strategic noise maps in an effort to satisfy the requirements of EU Directive 2002/49/EC. However, these tools may not be readily available to local authorities with limited resources. This paper investigates the possibility of developing a simplified alternative to using detailed commercial software for the creation of strategic noise maps. In-house noise prediction software was used to calculate a noise map of Dublin city centre and results were compared to those of commercial standard software. The in-house software tool was then used to assess the impact of various source-dependent action plans in a time-efficient and practical manner. Measurements were also carried out at various locations throughout the test area, which were then used to investigate the accuracy of predictions. Finally, a hybrid approach to developing a strategic noise map by integrating measurements taken on-site with predictions was developed. This approach was applied to the test area and yielded a refined noise map that presented noise levels which were more reflective of the measured levels recorded on-site. This demonstrated that the method could be used to determine noise levels that would be representative of the acoustic environment experienced on-site. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As cities grow in size and number of inhabitants, continuous monitoring of the environmental impact of sound sources becomes essential for the assessment of the urban acoustic environments. This requires the use of management systems that should be fed with large amounts of data captured by acoustic sensors, mostly remote nodes that belong to a wireless acoustic sensor network. These systems help city managers to conduct data-driven analysis and propose action plans in different areas of the city, for instance, to reduce citizens' exposure to noise. In this paper, unsupervised learning techniques are applied to discover different behavior patterns, both time and space, of sound pressure levels captured by acoustic sensors and to cluster them allowing the identification of various urban acoustic environments. In this approach, the categorization of urban acoustic environments is based on a clustering algorithm using yearly acoustic indexes, such as Lday, Levening, Lnight and standard deviation of Lden. Data collected over three years by a network of acoustic sensors deployed in the city of Barcelona, Spain, are used to train several clustering methods. Comparison between methods concludes that the k-means algorithm has the best performance for these data. After an analysis of several solutions, an optimal clustering of four groups of nodes is chosen. Geographical analysis of the clusters shows insights about the relation between nodes and areas of the city, detecting clusters that are close to urban roads, residential areas and leisure areas mostly. Moreover, temporal analysis of the clusters gives information about their stability. Using one-year size of the sliding window, changes in the membership of nodes in the clusters regarding tendency of the acoustic environments are discovered. In contrast, using one-month windowing, changes due to seasonality and special events, such as COVID-19 lockdown, are recognized. Finally, the sensor clusters obtained by the algorithm are compared with the areas defined in the strategic noise map, previously created by the Barcelona city council. The developed k-means model identified most of the locations found on the overcoming map and also discovered a new area.